God, those NoW journos were utter scum weren't they?

[headfairy]

apparently by deleting Milly's messages her family still had some hope that she might still be alive

But if all the papers used hacking as common practice to get stories why is everyone focussed on this? Most people will not give up their sky tv etc so a lot of this is hugely hypocritical. There are a lot of people who if offered the chance to listen in on a celebs phone just wouldn't be able to resist! I know I would. Not the same as victims of crime and terrorism I know but the appetite for more and more detailed info about the lives of others comes from things like the Xfactor and Big brother and so on. I don't have sky or buy any of the mentioned papers but that is not because of Murdoch it is just the way it is but I am sure the papers are do read aren't whiter than white and there will no doubt be revelations about them but I will probably still read them. I have seen more outrage online than I have amongst my friends and family. Is it just me?

"I have seen more outrage online than I have amongst my friends and family. Is it just me?"

I've noticed that too. I don't actually think it'll take all that long to be forgotten about.

Write to your MP to ask them to oppose the Newscorp takeover of BskyB. It's very easy here they look up your MP for you:

www.38degrees.org.uk/page/speakout/time-to-stand-up-to-murdoch

I don't agree at all noddy and Empusa*

Everyone I know is talking about it and they are all shocked/upset etc. As they should be.

I suppose it depends who you are talking to.

I think it's obvious that a lot of people do care. And wouldn't it just suit Murdoch et al if this was dismissed as just a 'chatterati' (or whatever the hell they're called) campaign.

flippinada why are you upset?

Empusa, I am horrified by the fact that these hacked phone calls could have hampered rescuing the girl in a similar situation. I am disgusted that our MP's and police are scared of this media organisation, that they are essentially threatened that they will be hounded and their families will be hounded for the rest of their lives by these unscrupulous persons all to further a billionaires bank account. The bravest MP, the man who despite threats has persisted and stood up in parliament and told the truth (despite Blairs best efforts) is Tom Watson.

I want to know what politicians are in Murdochs pocket and which are working for the interest of the country and the people.....Wednesday's vote will show us.

I don't have sky or read/buy any Murdoch papers and that is by choice. It's not hard to not do/boycott these things if you want to (or indeed care enough to).

Who wouldn't be upset by it noddy?

Fact is, this could have happened to any one of us - ordinary people - who due to tragic circumstance became newsworthy. It's; really, really appalling.

To me (and a lot of other people), it's not just some abstract news story.

I have private reasons too, but I'm certainly not going to put them on here to be picked over.

The govt have been at the mercy of the gutter press for years though and the way the sun switches allegiance as and when has always gone on. Other papers have hired journalists who have done this it is not just NI. They have just been exposed first. There has been plenty of negative press on Murdoch and NI over the years yet Sky subs and NOTW circulation kept growing.

It does bother me that this might be 'forgotten'. I really hope that doesn't happen. Time will tell.

I agree it could have happened to any of us. I am not upset though as I am not surprised and have always hated Murdoch and his ilk.

Oh yes of course..but if you can't honestly see why people are upset and angry (etc) I guess you are just not going to get why other people are.

Btw sorry if that comes across as a dig noddy, not meant to. It is difficult to get 'tone' across online.

I'm not surprised either, and was actually shocked by my own strength of feeling. I don't get why peopler aren't angry and so forth.

Astonishing piece on Rebekah Brook's style. It highlights what I've been hoping would open up about the odious PR meisters like Matthew Freud (married to Elisabeth Murdoch - how convenient!

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2013046/Rebekah-Brooks-Sun-News-World-run-fictional-stories-insider-claims.html

I have always been angry about the monopoly NI has on the govt etc in this country but this particular story has had no effect on me either way.

Also, all this stuff about Brooks having something on Murdoch.

Just mo, but not sure that's the case.

What's filtering out seems to suggest he regards her almost as family. Maybe that's behind it?

Who knows though.

I agree re: NI noddy

As I say, I was taken aback by my strength of feeling. I understand you feel differently; but I think a lot of people do feel very strongly about it.

I am not normally a campaigning type of person but I have been on this issue for the reasons given.

Can I again recommend Nick Davies' book Flat Earth News, which is about not just the Dark Arts but churnalism as a whole, and the relationship between PR agencies churning out material for clients and over-stretched media sub-editors desperate for content.

That Mail story linked to above, " 'PR men would think up a story and Rebekah's Sun and News of the World would run it, word for word. Some were complete fiction" fits perfectly with this.

Will look out for that ThisIs, sounds interesting.

There was a v interesting piece in the Guardian about the family, I started a thread on it but only Aitch noticed

\link{http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/in_the_news/1255162-The-Murdoch-family-imbroglio2-fascinating-piece-by-Michael-Wolff\by Michael Wolff who has written a book about Murdoch, The Man Who Owns the News}

There is plenty of rivalry within the family (as you'd expect) & apparently Mrs RM III does not like RB, which means RM can't fire her because it would look as if he was siding with the Mrs over his children; also

'Family insiders say it was Freud who suggested closing the paper. He is said to have described it to James as a "Wapping" approach ? that is, when Rupert in the dead of night moved his British papers to Wapping to break the print unions'

It's a bit hearsay but both those things make sense...

i have always read now and i brought it today and it saddens me that i cant buy it anymore

ooooh, & that piece links to \link{http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/apr/22/james-murdoch-independent-dodge-city\this incident} where James Murdoch had a go at Simon Kellner for daring to suggest that Rupert Murdoch wouldn't be deciding the result of the election

handbags at dawn practically!

"What are you fucking playing at?" was his opening gambit....the episode left experienced journalists shocked. "They strode in like a scene out of Dodge City," said one. "Murdoch scanned the room, you could almost hear him saying 'Where is he?'"...Another likened the arrival in the newsroom of Murdoch and Rebekah Brooks, the chief executive of News International, to a mafia visit. "It was so bizarre. He came in all menace. You know the sort of thing: 'The boss has heard what you have been saying about him. He doesn't like it.'"

Thanks, Ponders - another volume for my implausibly long reading list. [hsmile]

It all sounds a bit Dynasty/Dallas...!

Fascinating article ponders.

I wonder if it's a sign of how bothered RM is by the scandal that he's flown in personally to take charge?